Wheel Comes Off Tractor-Trailer in El Paso
Posted on February 20, 2008
Filed Under VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
On Tuesday, February 19, on I-10 in El Paso, TX, a westbound tractor-trailer lost its left front steer wheel, which then bounced into the eastbound lanes of I-10. The wheel struck a glancing blow to at Dodge pickup pulling a camper, smashing in the driver’s door. No one was injured.
This sort of thing doesn’t happen too much anymore. It was much more prevalent 20 or 30 years ago, but the surge of Federal money to the States over the last 2 decades to hire DOT vehicle inspectors has greatly improved the quality of equipment you see on the road. It was luck that no one was killed in this incident. A truck wheel probably weighs 100 – 200 lbs, traveling 60 MPH, heading into traffic going 70 MPH, and you have a 130 MPH missile.
Why did this happen? Lack of routine maintenance. You must routinely bring your truck into the garage, even when nothing is wrong with it. This is the only way to catch little problems before they become big problems. If your maintenance program is one where you fix it when it breaks, that’s wrong, and it’s dangerous. If the truck fails to start, nobody is hurt, except your wallet, but if a wheel falls off on the interstate, you could very well kill somebody.
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Eric Arnold is a Former Enforcement Agent with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and a leading expert on USDOT compliance for small businesses. Do you have a question for Eric Arnold? Email him at eric@arnoldsafety.com.
Arnold Safety simplifies D.O.T. Compliance for commercial vehicle operators. Get Eric Arnold’s USDOT Compliance Guide, DVD, & Regulations at ArnoldSafety.Com.
Learn more about Arnold Safety compliance consulting services at ArnoldSafety.Com.
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